Travel Life After COVID-19

How will our travel plans be affected affect this pandemic?

iPhone Photo: WendyAnn Williams

As we are all forced to stay at home during this Coronavirus Pandemic, (COVID-19) it has justifiable caused a great deal of uncertainty and fear. One of the things I think about is as we transition back into society is, how will our travel plans be affected. I enjoy traveling to different places with my camera and exploring different cultures, sceneries, take in nature as it exists, and for respite. However, I rarely positioned this hobby on my calendar as definitive agenda for various reasons. Such as, not having enough money set to aside for it, forced to postpone it due life circumstances, and excuses, such as no time, the demands of work,etc. So earlier this year I made a commitment to myself incorporate my love for photographing and traveling on my calendar. Whether it was a weekend or mini week day trips, I would make the time for it, because it’s that important to me. But since the Shelter in Place has been put into motion, everything will have to be put on hold indefinitely.

The Betsy Hotel, South Beach Miami Photo: WendyAnn Williams

The Orb at The Betsy Hotel Photo: WendyAnn Williams

So we went to South Beach Miami in February to celebrate my birthday just before the public knew about the present danger of the virus rapidly sweeping our country. And stayed at one of the historic landmarks, The Betsy Hotel, known not only for it’s Georgian architecture, but for supporting Miami cultural artists, such as hosting book signings and professional photographic works hung on the walls throughout the hotel by various artists. This experience was very exciting for me as an avid artist myself. Even though, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there, I can’t help but wonder how the travel and hotel industry will impact our lives post COVID-19 or the new normal. As a consumer, just thinking about staying at a hotel makes me very skeptical about the proximity of being next to others, anxious about touching surfaces, and wondering if someone has the virus. I am left to understand how will the hotel and travel industry will be working to restore my confidence as part of the recovery process, because staying at a Villa is just not another option I can afford.

Grenada, West Indies Photo: WendyAnn Williams

With being one of the 20% of people that is angst about air travel, as Laura Itzkowitz from Architectural Digest, puts it, https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-covid-19-will-change-travel

Will it cost more for air travel due to airlines implementing new guidelines and restrictions? How long will it take the travel and tourist industry to make the necessary improvements before we are back to any sense of normalcy? We would probably have to do more road trips in the meantime according to Gregory Miller, the executive director of Center for Responsible Travel, (CREST). https://www.responsibletravel.org/getInvolved/spring2020Newsletter.php

I am not certain of any of this, however, I am cautiously looking forward to the new and improved changes post COVID-19, from vamping up testing of this virus and other viruses, to dramatically improving cleaning practices.

Let the road trips begin in the meantime.

xoxo, WW

The Distinguish Gentleman

My hubby driving through traffic, his concentration moves me…

When Doubt Comes

I decided not to watch the telly tonight and do some reading instead, but nothing seem to interest me. I thought about doing some writing. As I sat down to think about what to write about, my mind went blank. All my thoughts about my day, my feelings, what’s bothering was completely erased from my frame of mind. As I decided to give up on the writing and clean up my desk, I carelessly knocked down some things off my desk which caused an avalanche of office supplies under my desk. As I was picking up all the items that fell I found this pink notebook peeking out at me in a box from undereath my desk. As I began flipping through the pages haphazardly one note caught my attention, ‘When Doubt Comes’ by Rev. Logan (2005). It was then and there as I sat at my desk reading the notes I made,  I realized that I’ve been struggling with the issue of doubt.

We all will go through a season of doubt according to Rev. Logan’s sermon. Even some of the most admired, well respected men of faith went through their temporary moments of doubt, such as Zechariah (Luke 1:18-20) and John the Baptist (Matt. 11:1-3). When John heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask if He (Jesus) was the one who come or whether they should expect someone else. So when his disciples reported to John what they had seen the Messiah did, then he believed. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were both very old, and she was not able to conceive. When the angel Gabriel foretold Zechariah of the birth of his son, John the Baptist, he asked the angel of God, ” How can I be sure of this?” He lost his voice, because he doubted what only God can do. After his son’s birth he began to speak again.

Fear sometimes can bring about doubt, but the choice is mine [and yours] not stay in this season of doubt and to live above the circumstances. The circumstance may not change, but how you and I choose to live will help us to look at things differently. When you are tempted to doubt, regroup, trust what you know is true and holdfast to the faith.

xoxo

“You are never strong enough that you don’t need help.” — César Chávez

Fashion Week groupies

I bet they must be saying,” yeah, didn’t see anything that I really wow me, but the show went well.”